Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths was 235,997 children in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
235,997 children
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
14th
of 139 countries
All-time high
680,555 children
in 2007
All-time low
43,240 children
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Ethiopia, 1990–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1990200720241990: 43.2k children1991: 62.0k children1992: 86.7k children1993: 118.1k children1994: 156.7k children1995: 202.0k children1996: 253.2k children1997: 308.1k children1998: 364.2k children1999: 419.9k children2000: 474.2k children2001: 524.3k children2002: 569.0k children2003: 607.3k children2004: 638.6k children2005: 661.9k children2006: 676.8k children2007: 680.6k children2008: 671.8k children2009: 653.2k children2010: 624.4k children2011: 586.3k children2012: 541.7k children2013: 496.8k children2014: 454.6k children2015: 416.2k children2016: 382.0k children2017: 355.7k children2018: 336.5k children2019: 320.3k children2020: 303.3k children2021: 286.8k children2022: 270.6k children2023: 252.7k children2024: 236.0k children

Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.

Analysis

In 2024, children orphaned due to aids deaths in Ethiopia stood at 235,997 children.

That represents a change of down 6.6% on the previous year and down 48.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children orphaned due to aids deaths in Ethiopia peaked at 680,555 children in 2007 and was at its lowest, 43,240 children, in 1990.

That places Ethiopia 14th out of 139 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Ethiopia, 1990 to 2024.
Year children Change
1990 43,240 children —
1991 62,004 children +43.4%
1992 86,708 children +39.8%
1993 118,136 children +36.2%
1994 156,724 children +32.7%
1995 202,004 children +28.9%
1996 253,169 children +25.3%
1997 308,124 children +21.7%
1998 364,241 children +18.2%
1999 419,940 children +15.3%
2000 474,187 children +12.9%
2001 524,307 children +10.6%
2002 568,988 children +8.5%
2003 607,294 children +6.7%
2004 638,624 children +5.2%
2005 661,864 children +3.6%
2006 676,772 children +2.3%
2007 680,555 children +0.6%
2008 671,839 children -1.3%
2009 653,151 children -2.8%
2010 624,398 children -4.4%
2011 586,256 children -6.1%
2012 541,716 children -7.6%
2013 496,825 children -8.3%
2014 454,631 children -8.5%
2015 416,241 children -8.4%
2016 381,991 children -8.2%
2017 355,731 children -6.9%
2018 336,522 children -5.4%
2019 320,260 children -4.8%
2020 303,297 children -5.3%
2021 286,831 children -5.4%
2022 270,648 children -5.6%
2023 252,742 children -6.6%
2024 235,997 children -6.6%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 235,997 children is above the median for low income countries, which is 48,346 children, 4.9× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 235,997 children is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,352 children, 2.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 201,429 children 43,240 children 419,940 children 10
2000s 615,758 children 474,187 children 680,555 children 10
2010s 451,457 children 320,260 children 624,398 children 10
2020s 269,903 children 235,997 children 303,297 children 5

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 11 Zambia 351,372 children compare
  2. 12 Cote d'Ivoire 308,216 children compare
  3. 13 Angola 285,617 children compare
  4. 15 Ghana 235,107 children compare
  5. 16 Pakistan 164,171 children compare
  6. 17 Thailand 148,267 children compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More reference data data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is children orphaned due to aids deaths in Ethiopia?
Children orphaned due to aids deaths in Ethiopia was 235,997 children in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 680,555 children in 2007.
What is the lowest children orphaned due to aids deaths recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 43,240 children in 1990.
How does Ethiopia rank for children orphaned due to aids deaths?
Ethiopia ranks 14th out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
Is children orphaned due to aids deaths rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is down 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-children-orphaned-from-aids/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Children orphaned due to AIDS deaths
Unit
children
Source
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
139 places, 4,809 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

Number of children, aged 17 and under, who have been orphaned by the death of one or both parents from AIDS at any point in their lives. This is the central estimate.